Explain Like I'm Five · by Avery Johnson · 2026-08-28
How would you solve this weekend problem with questions as a beginner?
This is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. explainers got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.
My current rule is simple: if it takes less than 9 minutes to prepare, I am much more likely to keep doing it.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 8 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
52 sparks · 9 comments
Comments
Liam Eriksson · 24 likes
My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. My only addition is to make the first step visible.
Liam Eriksson · 11 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. You will learn more from a simple version repeated three times than from a perfect plan you never start.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it.
Mateo Cruz · 8 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. The trap is trying to optimize before you have feedback.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
That should give you a solid first pass.
Luciana Vargas · 3 likes
Yes, but I would approach it in a small, testable way rather than trying to solve everything at once. The trap is trying to optimize before you have feedback.
- Start small and make the next step obvious.
- Keep notes so you can compare what worked.
- Ask someone with recent experience, not just strong opinions.
Source: mostly hard-won experience and comparing notes with people who stuck with it.
Maja Wiśniewska · 2 likes
My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.
Noah Miller · 1 likes
Small caveat: context changes the answer a lot.
Grace Parker · 1 likes
My practical advice is to make the next step tiny enough that you can do it today. Momentum usually answers half the question. The low-effort version is probably the keeper.
Finn Brown · 0 likes
The middle path is probably best: try it cheaply, keep notes and decide after you have real evidence. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.